Elon, show us the Q - quad-motor AWD

hey, you need to leave them something to announce in 2016 for the Model S V3, so everyone trading up to the "D" can trade-in again. Did apple go directly from the original iphone to the iphone 6 plus? hardly...

PokerBroker said:

Tesla successfully tackled the Dual motor AWD system. Any bets that they have a quad-motor prototype hiding somewhere in R&D?? Could four-wheel torque vectoring provide even MORE efficiency? Rimac's technology surely has gotten Tesla's attention. Maybe not for the Model S but perhaps for the next Roadster?

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Don't think so. IMO in Tesla they have already achieved a very efficient AWD System also performing torque vectoring and they don't even think to add two more motors. It would mean a much more expansive car having no improvement with respect to the standard Tesla AWD System.

mitch672 said:

hey, you need to leave them something to announce in 2016 for the Model S V3, so everyone trading up to the "D" can trade-in again.

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i lolz.

Fear not, the Model Hex has already been dreamed up on this forum... (6 motors).

PokerBroker said:

Tesla successfully tackled the Dual motor AWD system. Any bets that they have a quad-motor prototype hiding somewhere in R&D?? Could four-wheel torque vectoring provide even MORE efficiency? Rimac's technology surely has gotten Tesla's attention. Maybe not for the Model S but perhaps for the next Roadster?

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Mercedes already did the quad torque vectoring in their SLS EV.

No. Or at least not until Tesla can afford to fritter money away on things with little benefit.

The 4WD was necessary.

PokerBroker said:

Tesla successfully tackled the Dual motor AWD system. Any bets that they have a quad-motor prototype hiding somewhere in R&D?? Could four-wheel torque vectoring provide even MORE efficiency? Rimac's technology surely has gotten Tesla's attention. Maybe not for the Model S but perhaps for the next Roadster?

Click to expand...

I think people either missed it or misunderstood it. You don't need four motors to get torque vectoring. Because of the Open Differential design, applying the brake to one side causes the torque to move to the other side almost magically and with very little loss of total torque, and this is why they went to the electromechanical brakes instead of vacuum assisted; this gives you free vectoring.

Raffy.Roma said:

Don't think so. IMO in Tesla they have already achieved a very efficient AWD System also performing torque vectoring and they don't even think to add two more motors. It would mean a much more expansive car having no improvement with respect to the standard Tesla AWD System.

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As a two-motor setup is more efficient than a single, a quad-motor setup might be even more efficient still. Four motors means the the rotors can be made smaller in diameter. Smaller diameter means they can be mounted lower, which lowers the COG even further, not to mention diminishing the need for a mechanical differential. While I agree this is probably not necessary on a sedan platform such as the S, I can imagine such a setup might have a purpose in a more sporting chassis -- Next gen Roadster maybe?

ggr said:

I think people either missed it or misunderstood it. You don't need four motors to get torque vectoring. Because of the Open Differential design, applying the brake to one side causes the torque to move to the other side almost magically and with very little loss of total torque, and this is why they went to the electromechanical brakes instead of vacuum assisted; this gives you free vectoring.

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Agreed! I remember us having this discussion a while back and we ended up with this conclusion.

yobigd20 said:

Mercedes already did the quad torque vectoring in their SLS EV.

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As does the Rimac Concept One.

"Dear Santa..."